Lifeboat Foundation

Lithium-ion batteries have a lot of advantages. They charge quickly, have a high energy density, and can be repeatedly charged and discharged.

They do have one significant shortcoming, however: they’re prone to short-circuiting. This occurs when a connection forms between the two electrodes inside the cell. A short circuit can result in a sudden loss of voltage or the rapid discharge of high current, both causing the battery to fail. In extreme cases, a short circuit can cause a cell to overheat, start on fire, or even explode.

Continue reading “Adding thin layer of tin prevents short-circuiting in lithium-ion batteries” »

Researchers at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators from leading international institutions, have introduced an innovative cathode homogenization strategy for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASLBs).

This new approach, detailed in their recent publication in Nature Energy on July 31, significantly improves the life cycle and energy density of ASLBs, representing an important advancement in energy storage technology.

Current ASLBs face challenges due to heterogeneous composite cathodes, which require electrochemically inactive additives to enhance conduction. These additives, while necessary, reduce the batteries’ energy density and cycle life due to their incompatibility with the layered oxide cathodes, which undergo substantial volume changes during operation.

Given an open bounded subset Ω of $mathbbR^n$$ R n, which is convex and satisfies an interior sphere condition, we consider the pde $-\Delta_infty u = 1$$ — Δ ∞ u = 1 in Ω, subject to the homogeneous boundary condition u = 0 on ∂Ω. We prove that the unique solution to this Dirichlet problem is power-concave (precisely, 3/4 concave) and it is of class C 1(Ω).

One would not be wrong to note that Toyota’s hydrogen engine exhibits enormous performance characteristics. This engine has the capacity to develop one hundred and fourteen horsepower and one hundred and forty Newton meters of torque and, as such, can be used in different car types.

The power-to-weight ratio is also impressive, at 125 horsepower per ton and CO₂ emissions of 144 g/km, the thermal efficiency of the engine is 44%, far higher than any traditional gasoline engine. This high efficiency concerns better fuel economy and fewer emissions. The fueling system can also be said to be one of the peculiarities of the hydrogen engine that Toyota uses.

Utilizing data from NASA ’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, researchers discovered a unique energy peak in the aftermath of the brightest Gamma-Ray burst ever seen, suggesting the annihilation of electrons and positrons. This finding provides new insights into the behavior of cosmic jets and the extreme conditions following such bursts.

In October 2022, astronomers were stunned by what was quickly dubbed the BOAT — the brightest-of-all-time gamma-ray burst (GRB). Now an international science team reports that data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope reveals a feature never seen before.

Continue reading “A Flash Like No Other: NASA’s Fermi Detects Unique Energy Peak in Unprecedented Gamma-Ray Burst” »

A sustainable source for clean energy may lie in old soda cans and seawater. MIT engineers have found that when the aluminum in soda cans is exposed in its pure form and mixed with seawater, the solution bubbles up and naturally produces hydrogen—a gas that can be subsequently used to power an engine or fuel cell without generating carbon emissions. What’s more, this simple reaction can be sped up by adding a common stimulant: caffeine.

In a study appearing today in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, the researchers show they can produce hydrogen gas by dropping pretreated, pebble-sized aluminum pellets into a beaker of filtered seawater. The aluminum is pretreated with a rare-metal alloy that effectively scrubs aluminum into a pure form that can react with seawater to generate hydrogen. The salt ions in the seawater can in turn attract and recover the alloy, which can be reused to generate more hydrogen in a sustainable cycle.

Continue reading “Engineers develop a recipe for zero-emissions fuel: Soda cans, seawater and caffeine” »

Samsung has been shipping its solid-state battery with high energy density to electric vehicle makers, but warns that it will first land in more expensive models. It is also ready to deliver other promising battery technologies.

It’s a stunning turn for gaseous enemy No. 1.

Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) have achieved a significant breakthrough that could lead to better—and greener—agricultural chemicals and everyday products.